RE: Fission Bomb Geometries

["Neil, David M" <neildm@id.doe.gov>]

A few years back, there was a teen who collected a LOT of smoke detector

sources, with the idea of building his own reactor.  I suppose he planned to

use the neutron flux to bootstrap up to fuel breeding, but the article was

short on precise details.  This may not have been accidental ...   ;-)



His workshop was declared a Superfund site.



Dave Neil



-----Original Message-----

From: JPreisig@AOL.COM [mailto:JPreisig@AOL.COM]

Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 8:58 PM

To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

Subject: Re: Fission Bomb Geometries





Hmmmmm....



...



      The Americium (Am-241) in smoke detectors, if it indeed emits alpha 

      particles, can be combined with Be to produce neutrons.  The reaction

      is an (alpha, neutron) reaction.  Sure, it would be a stretch to 

collect 

      enough Americium this way, but Terrorists have time on their hands and

      are motivated.



      Ahh yes, my Rad Health Handbook shows that Am-241 does emit

     alpha particles.  AmBe sources emit neutrons, as most of us already

     know.



      I didn't spell too well last evening.  But AmBe sources do produce 

neutrons!!!





                                               J.R. Preisig, BA, MS, MA, PhD



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